Protecting Car Leather Interior

Now that the sun is shining, there’s more daylight available to make time to carry out those car maintenance tasks you’ve been putting off for most of the year. In this article, we’re looking at maintaining your car leather interior to ensure you don’t get cracks or let the leather go dry, keeping it in tip-top condition.

Why should I protect my car’s leather interior?

You may think that having leather upholstery in your car – with it’s tough and wipe clean surface – means that you don’t need to protect it. Well you’d be wrong. Without proper attention to the leather, you’ll find it will crack and go dry. Therefore, to keep it supple you’ll need to periodically condition the leather so that it keeps it’s strength and appearance. You may also find that in modern cars thinner grades of leather are used to keep costs down, which can also dry out quicker and is compounded by modern heating systems within the seats and the car itself.

How often should I protect the leather in my car?

We’d recommend that you clean and condition your car leather four times a year. Of course if you see signs of cracking then give the leather another top up. Some car owners may find it better to protect the leather in their monthly car maintenance routine.

What kind of leather cream or conditioner should I use on my car leather?

This can depend on the type of leather within your car. For instance, car’s made in the 2000s onwards usually have a vinyl protective coating to protect from stains. However, this doesn’t mean you need to condition the leather any less but you should look at purchasing a liquid leather conditioner to penetrate the vinyl surface. For older cars, you may find that the cream conditioners are more suited to the type of leather interior in your car.

I’ve spilled water on the leather, will it stain?

Clean water doesn’t ruin or stain leather, after all it’s used in the tanning process. You’ll usually find that it’s what else is in the water, like oil, which can stain and ruin the appearance of your leather. That’s not to say that you should leave water on a leather seat, since it could discolour the leather, plus the water may seep further into the seat. Always ensure you dry the leather as quickly as you can when it gets wet to avoid discolouration.

I have more questions about my car’s interior, can you help?

Of course, we’re a garage who are always on hand to help you with your car. It’s usually best for us to discuss the issue and see the car at the same time, so if you’re in the Bath area, why not pop down to our Radstock garage and we’ll happily check over your car and give our expert opinion. Call us today on 01761 415501 or book a car service appointment via our contact form.